opsin binding

Definition

Target type: molecularfunction

Binding to an opsin, any of a group of hydrophobic, integral membrane glycoproteins located primarily in the disc membrane of rods or cones, involved in photoreception. [GOC:hjd]

Opsin binding is a molecular function that involves the interaction of a protein, known as an opsin, with a light-absorbing molecule, usually a retinal chromophore. This binding event is essential for the initiation of the visual transduction cascade, the process by which light is converted into a neural signal. Opsins are transmembrane proteins found in photoreceptor cells of the eye. They possess seven transmembrane alpha helices that form a binding pocket for the retinal chromophore. When light strikes the retinal molecule, it undergoes a conformational change from its cis to trans isomer. This change in configuration triggers a conformational shift in the opsin protein, initiating a series of downstream events that ultimately lead to the generation of a nerve impulse. The interaction between opsin and retinal is highly specific and relies on a complex interplay of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The precise molecular details of this binding event vary depending on the specific type of opsin and retinal involved. However, the general principle remains the same: light-induced conformational changes in the retinal molecule trigger a cascade of events within the opsin protein, leading to the transmission of a visual signal.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (2)